President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is set to leave Germany abruptly following significant territorial gains by the M23 rebel group in the country’s volatile eastern region.
It has also been confirmed that President Tshisekedi will not attend the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for February 15–16, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tshisekedi has been in Munich, Germany, attending a high-level political and security conference with representatives from nearly 70 countries. His spokesperson, Tina Salama, confirmed his sudden departure.
According to Jeune Afrique, Tshisekedi’s flight is scheduled to leave Germany at 8:00 p.m. local time and arrive in Kinshasa during the night of February 14–15, 2025.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka will represent the DRC at the AU summit and has already arrived in Addis Ababa. Her mission includes rallying AU member states to condemn Rwanda, which the DRC accuses of supporting M23 rebels – accusations Kigali has repeatedly dismissed as unfounded.
Tshisekedi’s decision to cut short his trip comes amid reports of the M23’s continued advance in South Kivu Province, where they recently seized Kalehe, Kavumu, and its strategically significant airport. The FARDC (Congolese armed forces) has faced setbacks as M23 fighters gain more ground.
The AU summit is expected to address pressing continental issues, including security challenges in the Great Lakes region. One key agenda item is the official appointment of Angola’s President João Lourenço as the new AU Chairperson, along with the election of a new AU Commission President.
The unfolding situation in eastern DRC continues to raise concerns, with regional actors closely monitoring the escalating conflict and its potential implications for regional stability.
